Bravo! Best Performance Centers
Nothing will ever replace the spine tingling thrill of seeing a live show - the rush of joy, the gut wrench of anticipation, the familiar fright of the stage, the exaltation at the character well played - nothing, not even modern technology, can replace it. Florida’s performance centers offer you the thrill of a love performance, coupled with breathtaking architecture, perfect locations within a city, and a spread of unique, memorable, and sensational plays, concerts, comedy shows, and more.
These are our picks for the best performance centers in the Sunshine State. We hope you enjoy the show.
Gulf Coast
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa is the largest performing arts center in Southwest Florida, presenting over 650 performances annually in its five theaters. The performances here show great range, including dance, symphony, opera, plays, cabaret, pop concerts, comedy, children's shows and Broadway musicals. World-class entertainment is found here, from Disney’s ALADDIN (through Jan 5th) to performances by the Florida Orchestra, and A Midsommer’s Night Dream by William Shakespeare (through Feb 9th). One of the favorite places to dine before the show is Maestro’s On the River, near the fountains and overlooking the shimmering waters of the Hillsborough River, accessible by the beautiful Riverwalk that runs through the city. This center is also available for your own event, and is a particular favorite for weddings due to its unique architecture, beautiful indoor and outdoor waterfront ceremony and cocktail hour spaces, and catering from the restaurants.
strazcenter.org
One of Tampa Bay’s premiere event venues is the The RITZ Ybor in Ybor City. This venue hosts live concerts in the historic Ybor City district near downtown Tampa and the Channelside district. This is an excellent place to see an adrenaline-pumping rock show, or dance to the beat of a live DJ. This is also a very popular space for weddings, thanks to its 17,000 square feet of space, unique decor, and great sound and light setup.
theritzybor.com
Part of the Tampa Bay community but also an arts destination in its own right, St. Petersburg offers the Duke Energy Center for the Arts - The Mahaffey Theater. Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg showcases the city’s love for arts and culture. The theater is a 2,031-seat cultural jewel featuring elegant ballroom space, spectacular waterfront views, and European box-style seating. Just steps away from the culturally vibrant downtown and minutes away from white sandy beaches and world-famous museums, The Mahaffey hosts top-quality national and international artists, and hosts Broadway and comedy shows, classical, pop, rock and dance concerts, and performances by the renowned Florida Orchestra. Additionally, the theater supports the highly successful Class Acts program, which enables school children to experience the performing arts through in-theater performances as well as in-school outreach and extension programs. Weddings are, of course, a grand choice here; The Mahaffey features dazzling architecture, elegant ambiance and dramatic views of beautiful Tampa Bay. The spacious Grand Ballroom, stunning East Atrium and surrounding patio areas provide a variety of elegant options for the most important ceremony in your life.
themahaffey.com
Also in St. Petersburg is the State Theatre, the best spot for those who want to see what’s trending right now. It was originally built as a bank - the old-world Beaux Arts facade of the 705-seat theater serves up an interesting contrast to the facility's state-of-the-art tech and the contemporary bands (touring and local) that perform there, who couldn't possibly be any more popular at the moment. Four full beverage bars ensure an extra good time for all. With a close-to-the-stage pit and an upstairs balcony overlooking all the live action, you'd be hard-pressed not to be in on it, wherever you end up. Come here to listen to genres ranging from jazz and punk to rock and ska (or whatever genre is “in” right now).
statetheatreconcerts.com
Capitol Theatre - Ruth Eckerd Hall in downtown Clearwater is where you should head to catch a cool live concert or a pair of film classics in a grand historical setting. The venue has 750 seats but your concert experience is sure to be an intimate one. Don't miss Grammy-award winning performers like Jonny Lang (Jan 20 & 21) or country mega-band Little Big Town (Feb 26 & 27). Dating back to 1921, the beautifully restored former movie house and Vaudeville venue - a magnificent Mediterranean-Revival gem - will make you feel as if you've time traveled back to Hollywood's glam and glitz heyday. And, if you’re looking for a unique historic setting for your wedding, you can choose the Capitol Theatre!
rutheckerdhall.com
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota is set along the city’s beautiful bayfront, easily recognizable for its modern architecture and pleasing purple exterior! The Van Wezel presents a broad spectrum of the world's finest performers representing the diverse tastes of Southwest Florida residents and visitors. This season, with more than 100 events, the Van Wezel has carried on the long tradition of presenting spectacular musicals (see the musical baked from the heart: “Waitress,” January 24-26), top national and international performers, popular comedians, world-class symphony orchestras and a compelling mix of classical, modern and ethnic dance. The Van Wezel also hosts more than 50 performances and events presented by the Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Ballet, the Sarasota Concert Association and the Ringling Library Town Hall Lecture Series. For a wedding with spectacular views, choose the Van Wezel - recently renovated, the Roskamp Auditorium along with the Grand Foyer and Bayfront Lawn offer a dramatic venue with unparalleled views of Sarasota Bay (the sunsets over the bay are incredible).
vanwezel.org
Venice Performing Arts Center (VPAC) in Venice is a newly-built, modern venue that boasts a 1,090-seat multi-level auditorium in the city’s downtown. In addition to its regularly-scheduled shows and events, the VPAC is also home to three Performing Arts Organizations: The Venice Symphony, The Venice Concert Band, and The Venice Chorale. Each organization brings fantastic performances to audiences throughout the winter season. Shows here range from toe-tapping musical performances, to world-class dance presentations (see The Lezginka State Dance Company of Russia perform “Kings of Dance” on February 22).
veniceperformingartscenter.com
Central Florida
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando is home to the best international, national and local artists including Broadway, ballet, orchestra, jazz, rock, pop, dance and more. The performing arts center itself is pure inspiration. With the vision of Arts for Every Life, it's a place you can go to see amazing performances and to play, participate, learn and dream. Encompassing two city blocks of Orlando’s downtown, this attraction includes: the Seneff Arts Plaza for outdoor performances and gathering, the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater, 300-seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, event and education spaces, and more to come! The shows hosted here are unforgettable, from the Broadway production “Disney’s Aladdin” (Jan 22-Feb 9) to the Orlando Ballet’s performance of “Cinderella” (Feb 14–16).
drphillipscenter.org
Southeastern Florida
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach has provided Southeastern Florida with over 25 seasons in four venues: the 2,195-seat Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall, the flexible 289-seat Rinker Playhouse, the 170-seat Helen K. Persson Hall and the outdoor Michael and Andrew Gosman Amphitheatre with a capacity for 1,400 patrons. Performances range from orchestral ensembles, to Shakespearean classics, to Broadway hits. See one of the most captivating and enjoyable illusionists during “Vitaly: An Evening of Wonders” (Jan 15). Using dance and choreography to highlight issues of environmental justice, mass incarceration and immigration, “Jon Boogz and Lil Buck: Love Heals all Wounds” premiers Feb 6-7.
kravis.org
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is the destination of choice in South Florida for spectacular entertainment. Ranking among the top ten most-visited theaters in the world, the Center presents more than 700 performances each year to more than 600,000 patrons. Overlooking the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, this premier performing arts venue hosts Broadway musicals, operas, ballets, concerts, plays, multi-cultural performances, lectures, workshops and educational events; and it offers one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, serving more than 150,000 students annually. Celebrate Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary with a night of musical splendor during the commemorative performance (Feb 7) or perhaps you would enjoy what TIME Magazine called “A temple of satire,” The Second City: Laughing for All the Wrong Reasons (Jan 24).
browardcenter.org
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami is home to some the greatest artists and productions from around the world. With three state of the art theaters - the 2,400-seat Ziff Ballet Opera House, the 2,200-seat Knight Concert Hall, and the intimate Carnival Studio Theater - plus the beautiful Thomson Plaza for the Arts, designed as a perfect stage for outdoor performances, this is a premier showcase for performances ranging from opera and drama (catch the thrilling tale of love torn apart in “Miss Saigon,” Apr 7-12) to Broadway, dance performances and symphonic to pop concerts, cabaret to comedy, jazz to musicals (don’t miss the Tony Award-winning and world-changing “Hamilton,” Feb 18 -March 15) and beyond. Set in the heart of the city, the arts center is also a dramatic venue for staging weddings, birthday parties, anniversary receptions, corporate meetings, and many other special events.
arshtcenter.org
Florida Keys
The Red Barn Theatre in Key West is known for “creating BIG things in a small space.” A beloved attraction of the Florida Keys, the theater is, indeed, housed in a renovated red barn that was originally a carriage house in 1829, and has been a cornerstone of the Keys theatrical community for almost 40 years. The venue may be small, but the shows are big and Broadway caliber, from dramas like the fourth-wall-breaking “Life Sucks” (Jan 14- Feb 8) to the thought-provoking “Twilight Zone,” which is a favorite of patrons (Feb 18-Mar 14). The theater sits right on the famous Duval Street, making it the perfect location for spending an evening about town.
redbarntheatre.com
More To See
One of the largest and most active community theaters in the Southeastern U.S., Venice Theatre features an array of performances ranging from cabarets and musicals, to dramas and comedies, to contemporary productions. Performances this season include Arlene Hutton’s Gulf View Drive (Jan. 10-26) or the hilarious Menopause: The Musical (Jan. 10-Feb. 2) as well Yard Sale: A Musical About Junk (Feb. 7-Mar. 8). The theater provides community outreach and inspirational classes.
venicetheatre.org
Celebrating its 46th season, The Venice Symphony embarks on an exciting musical journey with new music director and conductor Troy Quinn. This season’s spotlight will be on the symphony’s accomplished musicians, with a variety of performances, from the stellar “Cosmic Convergence” to the thrilling, suave sounds of the music of James Bond. With performances held at the beautiful Venice Performing Arts Cen-ter, you’re sure to have an enriching and enchanted evening with The Venice Symphony. thevenicesymphony.org
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